VARIOUS LED LIGHT DURATIONS ON THE

GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF PECHAY

( Brassica rapa )

IVY C. BRAGAIS
CATHERINE D. HAVERIA
MARELYN A. MATIENZO

SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY – CASTILLA CAMPUS

Mayon, Castilla, Sorsogon

June 2021
 VARIOUS LED LIGHT DURATIONS ON THE
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF PECHAY
(Brassica rapa)

IVY BRAGAIS C.
CATHERINE HAVERIA D.
MARELYN MATIENZO A.

A manuscript submitted to the faculty of

Sorsogon State University – Castilla Campus,
Mayon, Castilla, Sorsogon, Philippines, in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

( CROP SCIENCE )
 June 2021
ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL SHEET

This manuscript entitled “VARIOUS LED LIGHT DURATIONS ON

THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF PECHAY(Brassica rapa)” prepared
and submitted by Ivy Bragais C.,Catherine Haveria D.,
Marelyn Matienzo A.in partial fulfillment the
requirements for the degree BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
AGRICULTURE, is hereby recommended for acceptance and
approval.
ENGR. ROGELIO N. GALANG JR.
Adviser
____________________
Date Signed

MR. ANDREW E. DETERA MR. MARLON G.GABELO

Member, Evaluation Committee Member, EvaluationCommittee

_______________________ ___________________
Date Signed Date Signed
ENGR. OSCAR PETER P. PASCUAL
Chairman, Evaluation Committee
___________________
Date Signed
Accepted as partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE.

Name of dean
___________________
Date Signed
SUSAN F. ASTILLERO, Ph.D.
Campus Administrator
_____________________
 Date signed
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page
Acceptance and Approval Sheet
Biographical Sketch
Table of Contents
Abstract
 ABSTRACT

I.C Bragais: C.D. Haveria: and M.A. Matienzo. “ VARIOUS

LED LIGHT DURATIONS ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF PECHAY
(Brassica rapa ) Undergraduate Thesis, Bachelor of
Science in Agriculture Major in Crop Science, Sorsogon
State University – Castilla Campus, Mayon, Castilla,
Sorsogon.

Adviser: Engr. Rogelio N. Galang Jr.

The study was conducted from May 15, 2021 to June 15,
2021 in a building type with a dark and closed room at
Cumadcad, Castilla, Sorsogon. The research aims to
identify the most effective and sufficient lightning time
duration, Objective 1: Analyze the growth parameters of
Pechay subjected to various time durations under LED light. 2.
To determine the most suitable light duration on the growth of
Pechay. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD) composed of four treatments, Treatment 1-
6 hours, Treatment 2- 8 hours, treatment 3- 9 hours, treatment
4- 10 hours. It was analyze using One way ANNOVA.

After one month of experiment the following are the important

findings a.) No significant differences on the first to fourth
data gathering, significant in fifth and highly significant on
sixth to eight data gathering in plant height. B.)

The most effective, sufficient, and suitable light duration on

the growth performance of pechay was the ten hours (T4),
followed by 9 hours (T3), 8 hours (T2), and 6 hours (T1)
lightning durations.
CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Pechay (Brassica rapa ) is an erect, biennial herb, cultivated

as an annual about 15-30 cm tall in vegetative stage. Ovate
leaves are arranged spirally and spreading. The petioles are
enlarged and grow upright forming a subcylindrical bundle.
Inflorescence is a raceme with pale yellow flowers. Seeds are
1 mm in diameter and are reddish to blackish brown in color.
Pechay can be grown from low to mid elevations throughout the
year.
Pechay is used mainly for its immature, but fully
expanded tender leaves. The succulent petioles are often
preferred part for food. It is used as main ingredient for
soup and stir-fried dishes. In addition, pechay is better
known as napa cabbage or Chinese cabbage in the United States,
a crisp leafy vegetable used in variety of Asian cuisines. The
tough outer leaves of the cabbage are common in soups and
stews, while the tender are often eaten raw, roasted or used
in kimchi. Each serving of pechay is low calorie and low fat,
which makes it ideal for dieters. In the Philippines, it is
popularly known as Petsay or Pechay. It is one of the most
often used in many Filipino dishes.
Pechay / Pak Choi ( Brassica rapa ) belongs to genus
of cabbage. It is also known as one of the oldest green
vegetables in Asia. Brassica rapa, has been selectively
cultivated to produce a plant that has an exceptionally short
life cycle (30 – 45 days). By providing ideal conditions of
perfect nutrition and continuous light, one can observe
germination, leaf formation, budding, flowering, and seed
development in a few weeks rather than a few months. The
edible part is its leaves. Its length varies from 10 – 30 cm.
Pechay is often used in stews and soups. It isn’t tasty by
itself, so it needs some salt and other flavor to be added.
Meals with Pechay ( Brassica rapa ) is often completed with
other vegetables and fish or meat. The raw leaves has a
nutritional value per 100 grams as follows, energy 20 kcal/kg,
carbohydrates is 3.2 gram, dietary fiber 1.2 gram, fat .2
gram, protein 1.2 gram, vitamin C 27 mg. and sodium 9 g.
Vegetable is one of the main ingredients in Asian
dishes, thus vegetable production is an old industry in the
region. However, due to tremendous increase in human
population, shortage in land to be used for vegetable
production posed an alarming phenomenon especially in urban
places. Some areas are blessed with enough natural sunlight
year-round that growers do not need to supplement with
artificial light. However, if one wishes to grow vegetable in
pots in urban areas, wherein insufficient sunlight is a
problem some artificial source of lights could be used.

According to Department of Agriculture, Sorsogon, September

14, 2020- More than 1.5 tons combined vegetables were gathered
by Sorsoganon farmer beneficiaries in the partial harvest of
Vegetable Production and Plantation Crops Establishment
Project in Region 5. In Matnog, Sorsogon a total of 366 kg
vegetable harvest comprising upo, kalabasa, pechay, okra,
sitaw, sili, talong and kangkong were sold in the local market
by 30 beneficiaries and members of Cabagahan Farmers
Association. The association earned Php 8,590.00.
LED lights for home use have become very popular and
many people are considering them for growing plants,
especially for starting seedlings. It sounds like a great
idea. LED lights use very little electricity so they save
money, and they don’t produce a lot heat so they can be placed
close to your plants. Sounds perfect and many people have
started to use them with success. Unfortunately, others have
found that they don’t work too well and one reason is that
manufacturers don’t tell you the truth about their products. I
know that is hard to believe-but its true they go out of their
way to confuse you.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
General Objective

Generally, the study aims to identify the most effective and

sufficient lightning time duration on the growth of Pechay.

Specific Objectives

1. Analyze the growth parameters of Pechay subjected to

various time durations under LED light.
2. To determine the most suitable light duration on the
growth of Pechay.

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

The study was done to determine what wavelengths
of light affects the vegetative growth of
Brassica rapa grown in pots. Pechay seedlings
were exposed to LED Lights for thirty days of
vegetative growth on different or various time
duration.(six, eight, nine and ten hours). This
is to help and generate new knowledge and
learning for the community especially the
vegetable farmers who does not have enough
supplynof direct sunlight.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study evaluated the growth response of pechay

(Brassica rapa) exposed to LED grow lights considering
different time duration. Using of LED grow lights as
alternative to sunlight was complied with the research
done by Acero in 2013.
The seed germination of pechay were grown just as like
the conventional way of farming up to 15 days of
germination period. Constructing of box were done on
April 2-17, 2021. This box were used as block per
treatment and replicate. After the germination period
the seedling were transplanted to its individual pots
after the transplanting the seedlings is ready to be
exposed in LED lights. The growth performance was
analyzed based on the stated parameters (height, width of
leaves, color of leaves, number of leaves, and leaf area
index).

TIME AND PLACE OF THE STUDY

The study were conducted at Brgy. Cumadcad, Castilla,
Sorsogon. This research experiment have used 12 LED
lights with the combination of red and blue in color. The
LED light is 60 watts per treatment. The distance is 24
inches from the tip of the plant. The plants in every
treatment are in a line form. Consist of three lines per
block or treatment. Every block is two square foot in
size. The researchers have used a combination of garden
soil, vermicast and rice hull as the soil media potting
mix.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

SEED - define as fertilized mature ovules that possess an

embryonic plant, a preserve food and protective seed
coat.
SOIL - this is the loose material that covers the land
surfaces of earth and support the growth of the plant.
TRANSPLANTING - this is the process by which the plant
removed from their temporary area and transferred to
their permanent area.
RANDOMIZE COMPLETE BLOCK DESIGN (RCBD) - is defined by an
experiment whose treatment combinations are assigned
randomly to the experimental units within a box.
LEAF AREA INDEX ( LAI ) - which is used as a measure in
hundreds of studies on forests, crops, climate and the
environment, is calculated as a half the area of all
leaves per unit area of ground. It is measured as the
leaf area (m2) per ground area (m-2) and is unit-less.
So, a plant with a LAI of 2 has an amount of leaves that
can cover a given area two (2) times. LAI is calculated
for a plant or can be scaled up to give readings for a
whole crop or even a region. It is one of the most
important parameters to measure leaves and their
activity.

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) – Grow lights are a type of

energy efficient lights that are an option for indoor
growers. Unlike other types of grow lights, LEDs do not
burn a filament, but instead pass light through
semiconductors to create their spectrum. LED grow lights
can be used as the sole means of lighting in a growing
operation, as a supplement to natural light, or paired
with other types of grow lights.

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITRATURE

Effect of Artificial Light on Plant growth

Plants use light to make food through a process
called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants use
the green chlorophyll, a pigment, to help convert carbon
dioxide, water, and light into carbohydrates and oxygen.
When they do this, they create the materials that they
need to grow. This is just one reason that plants are
amazing .The visible spectrum of light contains many
different colors. These colors are visible in a rainbow.
Plants use different types and colors of light in
different ways. Plants use blue light help grow their
leaves. When it is combined with blue light, red light
helps a plant flower. The lights that we consider to be
warm household lights have a lot of red light .Green
light is not particularly helpful to plants. It is
reflected off the plants green surfaces Sunlight or
full spectrum light gives the full menu of light to a
plant. An artificial full spectrum light bulb gives
plants all of the light that they would have outdoors, so
they can use it like they would use the sunlight.
Sometimes a bulb can be better than sunlight, since much
of the sunlight a plant gets inside the house is indirect
light that is not very intense. Plants grow toward the
light, because this is their source of food. In nature,
light generally shines downward. A seed begins growing in
the soil, and it grows up toward the sun. The competition
for this light is fierce. When a plant gets larger, it
receives more light and may shade other plants below.

LED Grow Lights- Getting the Right Color Spectrum

Plant use sunlight to make energy. The process by
which they do this is called photosynthesis. Chlorophyll
in the plant is the pigment that absorbs light. Light is
made up of three different colors; red, blue, and green.
The reason that green plants appear that color is that
they reflect that color in the light spectrum. In other
words, the chlorophyll in the plant absorbs the red and
blue light much more than the green light. A major
advantage of using LED grow lights is the huge spectrum
of energy they provide. When you choose LED, you don’t
have to worry about switching out lights as your crops
mature through their growth cycle. Even better- you can
actually install a system that’s tailored specifically to
the type of crop you grow . ( 2020 The Tilth )

Growth Response of Brassica rapa on the Different

Wavelength of Light
Based on the result of the study white colored
fluorescent light is recommended as supplementary
lighting on brassica rapa grown in pots in urban area.
The researcher would like to recommend a follow-up study
on increasing the number of hours of plant exposure to
different colours of fluorescent light to obtain a
significant result An in-depth study should be conducted
exposing greenhouse plants to different colours of
fluorescent light and determining its effect not only in
vegetative stage of the plant but up to flowering phase
as well. (Liwayway H. Acero)

What Color Light Do Plants Grow Best In?

Blue is the most important light for plant
growth, because it is readily absorbed by chlorophyll and
converted into energy through photosynthesis. That said,
Blue light on its own is not nearly as effective as blue
combined with red and you want far more red than blue
light.
Red is the second most important wavelength of light for
plants on its own red is actually not all that effective,
but when combined with blue it becomes incredibly
important.
In fact, you want far more red than you do blue,
especially during the flowering stages of growth. Adding
red light leads to stronger growth with more leaves
during vegging and far better fruit and bloom production
during flowering. Not only do you get higher yields, but
also higher quality yields. (June 12, 2020 By Steven)

CHAPTER III
MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental Plants
A total of 108 pechay seedlings and 9 sample plants
per treatment. The pechay plant have been distributed in
a Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD). There are four
(4) treatments that are replicated three (3) times with a
total of twelve (12) experimental units as shown in
Figure 1., the researchers have only choosen to use
pechay as the Organism of the study in order to meet the
limited duration of the course since Brassica rappa is a
fast growing crop that can be harvested within 30 days so
that the extraction of data can be done within the given
period of time. Each replication consist of 9 sample
plant. The treatments of this study are the following:

Treatment 1 – 6 hours (control)

Treatment 2 – 8 hours
Treatment 3 – 9 hours
Treatment 4 – 10 hours

T3R1 T4R2 T1R3

T1R1 T1R2 T2R3
T3R2 T2R2 T4R3
T2R1 T4R1 T3R3
Fig.1
Experimental
Layout

Fill a seedling tray a soil potting mix (soil

media) and pour water to make it moistened. Lay one
pechay seed on the seedling tray, in the center of each
cell. Sprinkled it with water over each seed. Cover the
seed tray with a clear plastic wrap. Place the seed tray
in an undisturbed area that receives bright, filtered
sunlight. Check the pechay seeds daily for signs of
germination, which can happen in as little as two to
three days. Remove the plastic immediately when you see
green shoots. Continue to provide the pechay seeds with
filtered sunlight and damp growing medium for the first
ten days. Transplant the pechay into a polybag filled
with soil media mixture once they reach 10 days old. Keep
the soil moist at all times. A nine sample potted plants
placed on a box with LED lights and keep it for 6 hours
for treatment 1, 8 hours for treatment 2, 9 hours for
treatment 3, and 10 hours for treatment 4.. Watered daily
for their moisture. The researches have collected data
every three days using ruler by recording the height of a
plant, size, color and number of leaves. The leaf area
index is measured using non-destructive methodology. LAI
is determined directly by taking a statistically
significant sample of foliage from a pechay canopy,
measuring the leaf area per sample plot and dividing it
by the plot land surface area.

This research method using four treatments. Each

treatment has nine (9) sample potted plants composed of 1
sample plants per pot. Plants in all treatments were
exposed to LED light during day time.
Treatment 1, Pechay exposed for 6 hours
Treatment 2, Pechay exposed for 8 hours
Treatment 3, Pechay exposed for 9 hours
Treatment 4, Pechay exposed for 10 hours.

Brassica rapa seeds have been germinated following the

recommended practice. A day before pricking out the
germination, one seedling for transplanting, the seedbed
was moistened thoroughly. Brassica rapa were planted in
polybag. In case of power interruption, the researchers
used solar panel for providing the lightning on the
experimental plants.

DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE

The researcher were gathered the data every three days

after transplanting. There are ten data collected within
the thirty days of duration period. After three days of
transplanting the researcher collect the plant height,
plant width, leaf area index, number and color of leaves
up to the harvesting period. After collecting those data
the researcher compute its data using complete randomized
block design (RCBD ).

STATISTICAL TOOLS AND ANALYSIS

The data collected were tabulated through Analysis of

Variance ( ANOVA ) to determine the variance and
significance among all treatments used in terms of number
and color of leaves, plant height and width of plants,
and the leaf area index.

CHAPTER IV
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter shows the summary, conclusions, and

recommendations of the study.

The research aims to identify the most effective and

suitable and sufficient lightning time durations on the
growth of pechay. Treatment I control- 6 hours light
duration, Treatment II- 8 hours light duration, Treatment
III- 9 hours light duration, Treatment IV- 10 hours light
duration. This study was conducted at Cumadcad, Castilla,
Sorsogon in a building type with a dark and closed room
from May 15, 2021 to June 15, 2021. A total of 108 pechay
were used in the study it was laid in Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times having
nine samples each.

Specifically, this study conducted to attain the

following objectives:
3. Analyze the growth parameters of Pechay subjected to
various time durations under LED light.
4. To determine the most suitable light duration on the
growth of Pechay.
CONCLUSIONS:

TREATMENT 4 (10 hours) gave the best response in terms of

color, number of leaves, height and width and the most
suitable light durations on pechay and highly significant
to the control.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The researchers recommend to use it in a high valued

crops.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researches would like to acknowledge and express
their deepest appreciation to the following persons for
the support and helping for the preparation up to the
completion of this thesis experiment:
To our adviser Engr.Rogelio N. Galang Jr., for his
wonderful support, motivation and openness and also for
sharing his ideas, suggestions and most of all, for the
patience to the researchers;
To the Panel Members of the thesis committee namely:
Mr. Andrew E. Detera, Mr. Marlon G. Gabelo, Engr.Oscar
peter D. Pascual as chairman, for the comments and
suggestions for the improvement and completion of this
study;
To the researchers family and love ones, for the
understanding and financial support to comply the needs
of our thesis experiments, To the Almighty God, for all
that we have.
 ABSTRACT

BRAGAIS, IVY C., et al., VARIOUS LED LIGHT DURATIONS ON

THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF PETCHAY (Brassica rapa).
Sorsogon State University – Castilla Campus, Mayon,
Castilla, Sorsogon June 2021
Adviser: Engr. Rogelio N. Galang Jr.